• Understanding roles
• CFAC model
• Collaboration basics

Course Description:

Foundations of MDT Practice is an introductory training designed to orient professionals to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) model and the role of the Children & Family Advocacy Center (CFAC) in coordinating an effective response to child abuse.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities within an MDT—including law enforcement, child protective services, forensic interviewers, and prosecutors—and how coordinated collaboration supports better outcomes for children and families. This training emphasizes the core principles of teamwork, communication, and role clarity, equipping participants to engage more effectively in the MDT processes.

Participants will explore how the MDT model functions in real-world cases and how each discipline contributes to a comprehensive, child-centered response.

Best suited for:
New MDT members, new hires, or professionals seeking a stronger understanding of MDT structure and collaboration.

• Identifying concerns
• Questioning in the field
• Notifying appropriate agencies

Course Description:

Recognize, RESPOND, and Report Child Abuse is a mandated reporter training designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to recognize signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, respond appropriately to concerns, and fulfill their responsibility to report suspected maltreatment.

Participants will learn how to use the RESPOND framework to gather information in a non-leading, trauma-informed manner while avoiding questioning or actions that could unintentionally influence a child’s disclosure or hinder the investigative process. The training emphasizes understanding what information is appropriate to gather in the field, when to stop questioning, and when to rely on the multidisciplinary team to conduct a more comprehensive investigation.

Participants will also learn how and when to report concerns of child maltreatment to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline and/or notify the appropriate investigative agencies, reinforcing the importance of timely reporting and coordinated response.

Best suited for:

Mandated reporters, community professionals, new MDT members, and professionals who may encounter children or families experiencing suspected abuse or neglect.

• Dynamics of abuse
• Disclosure
• Legal
• Child Development
• Purpose & structure of FI

Course Description:

Forensic Interviewing Foundations (ChildFirst®) is an intensive training designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct developmentally appropriate, legally sound, and trauma-informed forensic interviews in child abuse cases.

Participants are introduced to the ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol through a combination of instruction, demonstration, and hands-on practice. Key topics include child development, memory and suggestibility, dynamics of abuse and disclosure, legal considerations, and preparing for court testimony.

This interactive course includes skill-building exercises, review of recorded interviews, and a practicum in which participants conduct a simulated forensic interview and receive structured feedback. The ChildFirst® model emphasizes a flexible, holistic approach to exploring all forms of maltreatment while maintaining the integrity of the investigative process.

Best suited for:
Forensic interviewers, law enforcement, child protection professionals, and prosecutors seeking to strengthen their ability to gather accurate, reliable information from children.

• Full case simulation
• Decision-making
• Mock trial

Course Description:

Applied MDT Simulation: From Report to Resolution is an immersive, scenario-based training that allows multidisciplinary teams to apply their knowledge and skills in a realistic child abuse case simulation.

Guided by an experienced facilitator and grounded in a structured problem-based learning simulation (PBL-S), participants work collaboratively through the full lifecycle of a case—from initial hotline report through investigation, case planning, forensic interviewing, and courtroom proceedings. Teams will review documentation, conduct interviews, make critical decisions, and observe how those decisions influence case outcomes in real time.

This training integrates core concepts of trauma-informed care and emphasizes team communication, role clarity, and coordinated decision-making. The experience culminates in a mock trial, where participants translate their investigative work into courtroom practice.

Designed as a hands-on learning experience, this course challenges MDT members to think critically, adapt to evolving information, and strengthen their collective response to child abuse.

Best suited for:
Multidisciplinary teams—including law enforcement, child protective services, forensic interviewers, and prosecutors—seeking to enhance collaboration and apply their skills in a practical, team-based environment.